The Directory’s 2026 Bell County Voter Guide: Who’s Running, What’s on the Ballot and How to Vote
Early voting begins Oct. 19. From U.S. Senate and Congress to the Texas Legislature, county offices, local propositions and a proposed Bell County hospital district, here is what voters should know before casting a ballot.
Last updated: Oct. 16, 2026
Early voting begins Monday in Bell County, opening the final stretch of an election that reaches from Washington to individual city charters.
Voters will choose a U.S. senator and governor, members of Congress and the Texas Legislature, statewide and regional judges, county commissioners and members of the Bell County Appraisal District board. Depending on where they live, they may also decide questions involving a new hospital district, a $15 million Temple bond, changes to Killeen’s city charter, school taxes and other local measures.
That also means there is no single “Bell County ballot.”
Your ballot depends on where you live. Bell County contains two congressional districts, two Texas House districts, four county commissioner precincts and numerous cities, school districts and special districts. The county has published dozens of precinct-specific ballot styles. Before voting, residents should check the official sample ballot corresponding to their precinct rather than assuming every race or proposition in this guide will appear on theirs.
See the full voter guide here: bellcountytx.com
Start Here: When and Where to Vote
The deadline to register for this election was Oct. 5. Early voting runs from Monday, Oct. 19 through Friday, Oct. 30, followed by Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Applications for a ballot by mail must be received — not merely postmarked — by Oct. 23.
Bell County will operate eight early-voting locations: Morgan’s Point Event Center, the Belton Annex, Harker Heights Parks & Recreation Center, Thomas Arnold Elementary School Gym in Salado, Jackson Professional Learning Center in Killeen, the Killeen Senior Center at Lions Club Park, Temple ISD Administration Building and True Deliverance Ministries in Killeen.
On Election Day, Bell County uses countywide voting centers. Registered Bell County voters may cast their ballot at any of the county’s Election Day voting sites, rather than being restricted to one assigned neighborhood polling place. The county currently lists 42 Election Day locations and cautions that locations are subject to change.
Please check here: bellcountytx.com for the most up-to-date information.
What ID Do You Need?
Texas voters who possess an approved photo ID are generally required to present it. The seven accepted forms include a Texas driver license, Texas Election Identification Certificate, Texas personal ID card, Texas handgun license, U.S. military photo ID, U.S. citizenship certificate with a photograph, or U.S. passport.
For voters ages 18 through 69, most of those IDs may be expired by no more than four years. Voters 70 and older may use an otherwise valid approved photo ID regardless of how long it has been expired. A voter who does not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of those IDs may be able to use an approved supporting document and complete a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.
Voting by mail is more limited in Texas. Eligibility includes voters who are 65 or older, sick or disabled, expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day, absent from the county throughout both early voting and Election Day, confined in jail but otherwise eligible, or covered by certain civil-commitment provisions.
Federal Races
U.S. Senate
Every Bell County voter will see the U.S. Senate contest.
Ken Paxton — Republican
James Talarico — Democratic
Ted Brown — Libertarian
The winner will serve a six-year term representing Texas in the U.S. Senate.
U.S. House
This is one place where a voter’s address matters.
Parts of Bell County are in Congressional District 17, where Republican Pete Sessions faces Democrat Casey Shepard.
Most of the county is in Congressional District 31, where Republican John Carter, Democrat Justin Early and Green Party candidate Greg Stoker are on the ballot.
Voters will see only the congressional race for the district in which they live.
Texas Statewide Offices
Bell County voters will also help choose the officials who lead several major branches and agencies of state government. The Secretary of State’s certified Bell County ballot lists the following candidates:
Governor — Greg Abbott (R), Gina Hinojosa (D), Pat Dixon (L).
Lieutenant Governor — Dan Patrick (R), Vikki Goodwin (D), Anthony Cristo (L), Kevin McCormick (G).
Attorney General — Mayes Middleton (R), Nathan Johnson (D), Tom Oxford (L).
Comptroller of Public Accounts — Don Huffines (R), Sarah Eckhardt (D), V. Alonzo Echavarria-Garza (L), Shehla Faizi (G).
General Land Office Commissioner — Dawn Buckingham (R), Benjamin Flores (D), Neill Snider (L).
Agriculture Commissioner — Nate Sheets (R), Clayton Tucker (D), Austin R. Kelly (L).
Railroad Commissioner — Bo French (R), Jon Rosenthal (D), Arthur DiBianca (L).
These offices do very different things. The comptroller oversees state finances and revenue estimates; the General Land Office manages state lands and programs including the Veterans Land Board; the Agriculture Department regulates and promotes agriculture and administers several state programs; and the Railroad Commission regulates the state’s oil and gas industry, pipelines and certain mining activities.
The Statewide Courts
Texas elects judges through partisan elections.
Texas Supreme Court
Chief Justice — Jimmy Blacklock (R), Maggie Ellis (D).
Place 2, Unexpired Term — James P. Sullivan (R), Chari Kelly (D).
Place 7 — Kyle Hawkins (R), Kristen Hawkins (D).
Place 8 — Brett Busby (R), Gisela D. Triana (D).
The Texas Supreme Court is the state’s highest court for civil and juvenile matters. The Court of Criminal Appeals is the state’s highest criminal court.
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Place 3 — Thomas Smith (R), Okey Anyiam (D), Mark Ash (L).
Place 4 — Kevin Patrick Yeary (R), Audra Riley (D).
Place 9 — John Messinger (R), Holly Taylor (D).
The ballot also includes three races for the 15th Court of Appeals, a relatively new statewide appellate court with jurisdiction over certain civil cases involving state government and appeals from the Texas Business Court. Scott Brister faces Jerry Zimmerer for chief justice; Scott K. Field faces Tom Baker for Place 2; and April Farris faces Marc M. Meyer for Place 3.
15th Court of Appeals
Chief Justice — Scott Brister (R), Jerry Zimmerer (D).
Place 2 — Scott K. Field (R), Tom Baker (D).
Place 3 — April Farris (R), Marc M. Meyer (D)
3rd Court of Appeals
Chief Justice — Cory Liu (R), Darlene Byrne (D).
Bell County also falls within the 3rd Court of Appeals, the Austin-based regional appellate court serving 24 counties. Republican Cory Liu and Democrat Darlene Byrne are running for chief justice.
The Texas Legislature
Bell County is represented in the Texas Senate by District 24 and divided between House Districts 54 and 55.
Senate District 24
Pete Flores — Republican
Joe Paz Herrera — Democratic
The Texas Senate has 31 members. Senators vote on state laws and budgets and also confirm many gubernatorial appointments.
House District 54
Brad Buckley — Republican
Dawn Richardson — Democratic
Buckley and Richardson are meeting for the second consecutive general election. Buckley currently represents HD-54; Richardson is again challenging him for the seat.
The Directory sat down separately with both candidates as part of our Candidate Conversations series, giving each an opportunity to discuss their background, priorities, legislative goals and case to voters.
WATCH: Candidate Conversations — Texas House District 54
House District 55
Hillary Hickland — Republican
Amelia Rabroker — Democratic
Hickland is completing her first term representing the district. Rabroker is challenging her as the Democratic nominee.
The Directory also interviewed both HD-55 candidates separately.
WATCH: Candidate Conversations — Texas House District 55
Bell County Government
Some of the longest sections of a ballot are often the least discussed.
Several countywide offices have only one certified candidate in the general election. Republican David Blackburn is the sole candidate for county judge; Lacey Martindale for district clerk; Shelley Coston for county clerk; and Adriane Hodges for county treasurer.
The 169th, 264th and 478th judicial district races also each have one candidate — Cari Starritt-Burnett, Paul L. LePak and Wade Faulkner, respectively. County Courts at Law Nos. 1, 2 and 3 similarly list Paul Motz, John Mischtian and John Gauntt Jr. as their only candidates.
The more competitive county races are geographically limited.
County Commissioner, Precinct 2
Bobby Whitson — Republican
Stacey L. Wilson — Democratic
County commissioners sit with the county judge on Commissioners Court, which adopts the county budget and tax rate and oversees county roads, facilities and numerous county services. Only voters residing in Precinct 2 will see this contest.
County Commissioner, Precinct 4
Curtis Emmons — Republican
Ernest Wilkerson — Democratic
Only Precinct 4 voters will see this race.
Watch: Bell County LULAC Candidate Forum
Justice of the Peace
Patrick “Pat” Patterson is the sole candidate for Precinct 1; Michael Tice for Precinct 2; and Larry Wilkey for Precinct 3, Place 2.
In Precinct 4, Place 2, Republican Beatrice “Bea” Cox faces Democrat Jessica A. Gonzalez. Justices of the peace handle matters including small claims, evictions and Class C misdemeanors and also perform magistrate duties.
Bell County Appraisal District Board
The appraisal-district races deserve one clarification before the candidate names.
The Bell County Appraisal District board does not appraise individual homes, set individual property values or determine appraisal methods. The board hires the chief appraiser, approves the district budget and provides general governance and oversight. The chief appraiser and appraisal staff perform the actual appraisal work.
All three elected board positions are on the November ballot:
Bell County Appraisal District Board
Place 1 — Kevin Koch.
Place 2 — James Butts, Paul Strang, Gwendolyn Everett.
Place 3 — Charles Wilson, Cheyenne Minick.
Note: These positions are listed without party designations as the Bell CAD races are nonpartisan.
Bell County Hospital Services District: Proposition A
Every Bell County voter will also face a consequential local proposition asking whether to create a county hospital services district.
A vote for Proposition A would create the district and authorize it to levy a property tax of up to 75 cents per $100 of taxable value. A vote against would reject both creation of the district and that taxing authority.
That 75-cent figure is a maximum authorized rate, not necessarily the rate that would ultimately be levied. If the district is created, a board of managers would be responsible for decisions including the actual tax rate, spending and services. Commissioner Louie Minor, who promoted the proposal, has said he expects a substantially lower rate and argues a district could provide dedicated indigent-care funding and draw additional federal dollars. County Judge David Blackburn has cautioned voters that creating the district does not automatically mean Bell County would build a county hospital; a hospital district can also finance or provide healthcare services in other ways.
The ballot itself authorizes the creation of the taxing entity. The policy decisions that follow would come afterward.
Killeen Voters Have Eight Charter Amendments
Killeen voters will see eight city charter propositions in addition to the federal, state and county ballot.
The amendments address when city elections occur, how council vacancies are filled, citizen initiatives and referendums, and the process for recalling elected officials.
Killeen Charter Propositions
Proposition A — Move regular mayoral and City Council elections to November in odd-numbered years.
Proposition B — Remove the requirement that a councilmember resign when filing to run for another Killeen city office.
Proposition C — Provide for vacancies to be filled by the remaining councilmembers, with a special election if the council loses its quorum.
Proposition D — Change the time allowed to certify initiative and referendum petitions and correct deficient petitions.
Proposition E — Prevent adoption or submission to voters of a citizen-initiated ordinance that conflicts with state law.
Proposition F — Require a recall affidavit to allege incompetence, official misconduct or malfeasance.
Proposition G — Change the deadline for providing recall-petition forms.
Proposition H — Require a person initiating recall of a district councilmember to live in that district.
These are abbreviated descriptions. Voters should review the complete proposed language before voting.
The city has published its own voter guide with the complete charter language for each proposition.
Temple Proposition A: The Sammons Community Center
Temple voters will see a separate Proposition A asking whether to authorize up to $15 million in general obligation bonds to replace the Sammons Community Center.
The existing center was closed after structural problems were discovered following the May 2024 tornado. The proposed replacement would be approximately 20,000 square feet and would support community programming, recreation, fitness, education and events.
The city estimates the bond would add $0.0125 per $100 of taxable value beginning in fiscal year 2028, corresponding to an estimated maximum increase of about $10 annually on a $100,000 residence homestead after the city’s homestead exemption.
The Directory published a separate breakdown of the project, financing and questions surrounding the bond.
[READ: Temple Voters Will Decide a $15 Million Sammons Community Center Bond. Here’s What Proposition A Does]
Nolanville Voters Also Face Charter Changes
Nolanville voters have nine charter propositions, labeled A through I.
They address council wards, candidate residency requirements, mayoral appointment language, councilmember absences, forfeiture of office, filling vacancies, term limits, publication requirements for franchise ordinances and timelines for referendums. For example, Proposition G would establish a limit of four two-year terms in any one elected city office, while Proposition I would extend a referendum timeline from 30 to 60 days under the proposed charter language.
Because all nine contain changes to the city’s governing document, Nolanville voters should review the complete language on their official ballot rather than relying solely on abbreviated descriptions.
Other Local Propositions Depend on Your Address
The county’s ballot styles include several other propositions that will appear only within particular jurisdictions.
Voters in the proposed Bell County Emergency Services District No. 3 area will decide whether to confirm creation of the district and authorize a property tax of up to 10 cents per $100 of valuation.
Some Bartlett ISD voters will see three propositions involving a tax-rate ratification and refunding bonds. Holland ISD has a tax-rate ratification proposition. Florence ISD voters may see a tax-rate ratification and a separate refunding-bond proposition. Certain voters also have a measure concerning confirmation of Solana Ranch Municipal Utility District No. 1. Bell County Ballot Guide
That is precisely why checking a personal sample ballot matters. A Temple voter, Killeen voter and rural Bell County voter can walk into the same county election and receive substantially different ballots.
Before You Vote
Bell County’s official sample-ballot page organizes ballots by voting precinct and, where necessary, political subdivision. Some precinct numbers have several ballot styles because city, school district, emergency-services or other jurisdictional boundaries overlap. bellcountytx.com
The simplest preparation is to verify your registration and precinct, open the correct sample ballot, and review it from top to bottom before heading to the polls.
Bell County official sample ballots · Bell County early-voting information · Bell County Election Day locations · Texas voter ID requirements
The Directory News is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom. We do not endorse candidates or ballot propositions. Our goal is to give voters enough information to understand the choices in front of them and make their own decision.
Hear the candidates. Know the issues. Because the decision is yours.